Interested in researching a particular building in Armagh? This recorded video from April 2023 shows a wide range of historical sources and in-print material to discover the history behind the stone and mortar. The video highlights some key contacts and underused websites that may be of interest to those researching buildings and people in Armagh
A very informative social history talk was delivered on 20th April in the Robinson library Armagh. Attendees learnt about the various online and offline information sources available to research old buildings and their occupants through time such as Valuation revision books, Historic Map Viewer, Irish census, sources available at PRONI, Robinson Library, Irish Local studies library and Armagh County Museum.
Ulster Architectural Heritage facilitated this workshop and it was delivered as part of the Armagh City Townscape heritage scheme and funded by ABC Council and National Lottery heritage fund NI.
Come along to this free workshop entitled ‘Windows to the Past – Researching Armagh’s Buildings and occupants’ on 20th April 2023 at 7.00PM in the Robinson library Armagh. To book a place please register on the following site Window to the past – Researching Armagh’s buildings and occupants – UAH (ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk).
This event is delivered as part of the Armagh City Townscape Heritage Scheme and is jointly funded by ABC Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland.
www.armaghcityth.com
Restoration work has commenced on 18 & 20 Upper English Street Armagh. Built in the early 19th Century the buildings have had various uses throughout this period mostly incorporating a mix of shops and accommodation. Business types have included a Boot and Shoe merchant, a Bookseller, Printer, Publisher (as seen in the Black and white image on this board) and a Cake Shop.
The project will involve complete conservation and restoration of these two derelict properties which when restored will include 2 retail units on ground floor and 9 units of residential accommodation occupying the Upper floors of both buildings.
This project is made possible with funding from Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, private funding and National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland.
A big thank you to Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt of the Ulster Historical Foundation for facilitating a 5-week genealogy course focusing on how to research Armagh and Lurgan ancestors who emigrated around the world.
Over the last 5 weeks we were joined by a series of international guest speakers, including Chris Paton, Dave Millar, Melanie McLennan and Dr Perry McInytre, who delivered a series of high quality, informative and enjoyable talks providing an insight into the sources available to research ancestors who emigrated to Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia. We are very grateful to them for their contributions.
Also thanks to the 150 people who registered and attended the course from around the world; we hope the series proved useful – Wednesday evenings will not be quite the same now!
This course was supported through the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme and Armagh City Townscape Heritage Scheme; initiatives funded by the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council and Lottery Players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland; and the Friends of Shankill Graveyard.
We are very lucky in Armagh City to have so many listed buildings. As part of the TH Scheme, we wanted to create a number of Walking trails for tourists and locals alike. They are available in hard copy from Armagh County Museum, Navan Fort, Robinson Library, Hotels but are also available to view in the Resources section of this website.
The 5 week RSUA Advanced Conservation Course has commenced in Armagh City. Week two of the course was held in Armagh County Club, one of the buildings which has been restored as part of the Armagh City Townscape Heritage Scheme. Over 24 participants learnt about the importance of maintaining old buildings to ensure that penetrating and rising damp do not become a problem. We were given a tour of No 1 Seven Houses which has been rebuilt and Armagh County Club Armagh County Club and two other properties. Many thanks to all speakers; Moss Construction, Jonathan Todd Ballymullan Architect BMA, Sean Barden Armagh County Museum and Joseph Birt of FRSNI.
The course is been delivered as part of the Armagh City Townscape heritage scheme, a major building restoration scheme in Armagh. Armagh City TH is made possible with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Armagh Banbridge Craigavon Borough Council and private sector monies.
Armagh City Townscape Heritage in partnership with Ulster architectural heritage ran a great maintenance workshop last week. Over 25 people came and heard presentations from Jonathan Todd of Ballymullan Architect regarding the importance of internal and external maintenance of old buildings. Another speaker Dr John Butler presented on his experience living in an old Georgian house on the Mall in Armagh.
We then had the privilege of visiting 2 buildings in Armagh city which have benefited from the Armagh City TH scheme, 33 and 43 upper English st. The Workshop was made possible with funding from ABC Council and National Lottery heritage fund Northern Ireland. #Heritagefund
6 Barrack Street has been given a new lease of life after lying vacant for many years. What a transformation and now the proud place home to Sojourn Coffee. Check out our pre and post restoration video below.
Over 50 people attended the two History talks delivered by Sean Barden and Mary McVeigh in April and June 2022. Sean’s talk was entitled ‘The search for Salt Box Court’ , tracing the development of the early small streets of Armagh and the number of people living there.
Marys talk was entitled ‘Castle Street – Glimpses into the past’ and took place on Wednesday 22nd June 2022. Mary traced the origins of how Castle Street came to be named back to the 12th century. She then took us through its development from 1760 into the first and later half of the 19th century. The Talks were delivered as part of the Armagh City Townscape heritage scheme which is funded by ABC and @National Lottery Heritage fund.
Two fascinating history talks will take place on Armagh City street names and the history of Castle Street Armagh. Delivered by Sean Barden and Mary McVeigh, the sessions will take place on Wednesday 30th March and Wednesday 6th April at the Palace Demesne commencing at 7:30pm.
The sessions are delivered as part of the Armagh City Townscape Heritage scheme and are made possible with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund and ABC Council. Places are limited so please book by emailing Ciara.macneice@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk
Another two projects have commenced their restoration journeys as part of the Armagh City Townscape Heritage scheme. 26 Scotch Street Armagh and 33 Upper English Street Armagh (also known as Armagh County Club) To date we have seven buildings in the process of being restored. Please see images of project commencement below. The Projects are made possible with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, ABC Council as well as private investment.
This project is developing at a great pace and greatly enhancing the street and the row of Seven Houses on Upper English Street. The video below shows progress to date on the time-lapse camera. No 43 was originally built in 1774 but after a fire it was demolished in the 1957. Now 65 years later with funding from public and private sector, the building is being raised from the ground. The Project is made possible by funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, ABC Council as well as private investment.
Armagh City Townscape Heritage, funded by ABC Council and National Lottery Heritage Fund will facilitate a series of three history talks.
The three talks which will take place on 3rd November at the Palace Armagh, 11th November, Palace Stables, Armagh and 17th November at Palace Stables Armagh. People will be able to attend the free talks and they will commence each evening at 7:30pm – 8:15pm. If you would like to book your place please email by Ciara.macneice@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk or call or text 07753 265046 by Friday 29thOctober 2021.
Armagh City Townscape heritage 3D Sketch Project – Ulster Architectural Heritage informed us that our application for ‘Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by Young people’ has being shortlisted and we have made it through to the final stage of the UAH Heritage Angel Awards. UAH were in Armagh last week interviewing Peter McNeill, Project Lead and Ciara MacNeice, Education & activities officer. The Heritage Angel awards will be held in Belfast City Hall on Tuesday 23rd November 2021. For more details about the project please see link below:
https://armaghcityth.com/activities/primary-school-heritage-project/